STYA: Small Group Discussion

Young people need opportunities to discuss their concerns with caring adults. STYA programs offer preteens adult-led activities that facilitate discussion of sensitive topics (STYA component 2). To help younger adolescents identify, talk about, and work through their concerns, STYA programs utilize team-building, creative expression, and social-emotional learning activities. Through experiential learning, participants come to understand how to approach and resolve problems.
STYA programs do not provide professional mental health services including mental health counseling, psychoanalysis or treatment for severe mental illness, crisis intervention, or case management services. Youth requiring these services are referred to appropriate professionals in the community.
Examples of topics that might be addressed in discussion sessions include:

The development of healthy attitudes and values about adolescent growth and development, body image and positive self-esteem, respect and appreciation for human diversity, and other related subjects

Healthy relationships, such as:

friendships

kindness and positive support for peers (including anti-bullying bystander intervention)

gender roles

dating

relationship dynamics and power balances

romantic involvement

marriage

family interactions

Educational and career success, such as:

maximizing school success

exploring career alternatives and goals

developing skills to prepare for employment

Development of good study habits and other practices focused on academic achievement

Healthy life skills, such as:

health behaviors

goal setting

decision making

negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills

stress management

STYA's discussion component is separate and distinct from similar activities that occur as part of the mentoring component.

Resources

Self-Esteem and Self-Expression

Step-It-Up-2-ThriveThis Thrive Foundation site provides instructions and resources to help youth envision and work toward their full potential. Group lessons teach skills that promote youths' dreams and their contribution to the world.

Afterschool Training ToolkitThis toolkit from the SEDL National Center for Quality Afterschool offers research-based practices, sample lessons, and resources to support academic enrichment in afterschool. Lessons on creative expression are included in the Arts and Technology sections.

Team-Building

Raccoon Circle Activities (PDF)
This online manual offers a wide variety of games, activities, stories, and ideas for building community and teamwork.

Social-Emotional Learning

WingsWings offers free kits that were specially designed for parents/guardians, educators, youth development leaders, and others who want to incorporate social and emotional development activities into kids' daily lives.

Wings: Bullying (PDF)
Here Wings provides several activities to help children become aware of how others feel, discuss pressure and bullying, learn to say "no," and identify the components of a trusting relationship.